Philipp Lahm Denies He's Gay

In his memoir A Subtle Difference,
Lahm, 27, insists his marriage is not a sham.

“First, I am not a homosexual. I am
not married to my wife Claudia for appearances and I do not have a
friend in Cologne with whom I really live,” Lahm wrote.

He goes on to blast the gossipers.

“This speculation doesn't matter to
me. I have nothing against homosexuals and I find that there is
nothing wrong with homosexuality.”

“But it never ceases to amaze me that
these isolated types, who tell these stories, can have a lot of
influence on public opinion. 'Philipp Lahm homosexual' …. do you
have anything more important to talk about?”

But would a gay Lahm come out?
According to Lahm, no.

“I would not advise any gay
professional footballer to come out.”

“I would fear that he could end up
like Justin Fashanu who after he outed himself was driven into such a
corner that he ended up committing suicide,” he added, referring to
the first professional player in Britain to come out during his
career. In 1998, while living in Maryland, he was accused of sexual
assault and later committed suicide.